Bible Study at Isaiah 58, In His Service

Inviting you to a Women’s and Men’s Bible Study

in Isaiah 58, In His Service ministry

at 3734 East Admiral Place in the Admiral Place Shopping Center

BEGINNING

Wednesday, September 5^th from 6pm to 8pm. 

DINNER will be provided by First Baptist Jenks!!! 

Child Care will be provided by the Church at Downtown at

1915 East 3^rd Street 

TRANSPORTATION to and from the Bible studies is

provided just contact deni at 918-260-1933!! 

There is NO cost to attend. You WILL need a Bible

contact deni at 918-260-1933 and I’ll get you one!! 

Why study the Bible? We study to meet and get to know Jesus, to hear God speak to us through His word, to know God better, to help others, and to avoid errors by knowing the truth!!  

God is moving, move with HIM!! 

“There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is

God-breathed and useful one way or another – showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.” 2 Timothy: 3:15-17

Do Something!

I was asked by our campus pastor to be a counselor after the sermon on Palm Sunday. The message from the pulpit on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday make plain the need for salvation and how to receive Jesus’ invitation. The prayer is for folks who don’t go to church but a few times a year, will come and recognize their need for Grace and step forward in courage and faith to make a public profession of faith.  So I was stoked to be invited to go up front and be there to love on folks.

Saturday night I got word that I would be picking up kids from Comanche Park, Turley and almost to Sperry. So I headed out and made three trips up north to get everyone to church on time. Then I headed east and picked up four more folks. But, on the way to church I saw one of my guys sitting at a bus stop. It was pretty chilly outside and he only had on scrub pants and a jacket; his rollator was nowhere around. So I dropped off the four and headed back to the bus stop.

I pulled into the parking lot and walked over to Sauerkraut. He was shivering, he has cataracts that continue to crust his eyes and he wasn’t sure who I was initially. He said he had been in the hospital for the past few days. The hospital put him in a cab, “And I don’t got nowhere to go so I told them to drop me here;” which was about 4 hours earlier.

He was fretting because he didn’t have his walker and his routine was drastically messed up which heightened his anxiety and he had soiled himself.  I helped him into the van and he kept repeating, “It’s warm. It’s warm,” and I drove over to the Wall where he usually hangs out and there was his rollator.  I loaded it in the van and looked at him. Dear Jesus where was I going to take him?

Then he said, “Coffee, coffee, can I have some coffee?” I drove to McDonald’s and got him a breakfast and a large coffee, praying all along for a safe place to take him. When I climbed into the van I handed him the coffee and the bag. “Can you take me to my sisters?” He said he didn’t have an address but he could describe where we needed to go. So I headed out trying to remember where the street was he was talking about. We found it and he described an incline on the right side of the street.  I stopped and saw a big dog barking on the porch as I got out of the van. I pondered going to Heaven in pieces if this dog decided to attack…

I reminded Jesus I was being obedient, even unto death if the dog didn’t get me, his sister might shoot me showing up with Sauerkraut, a brother she was trying to forget. I uttered one last psalm, walked past the dog and started pounding on the door. After a few bangs I heard movement. The door opened and a rotund half-asleep man was standing there rubbing his head, “Yeah?” I asked if Sauerkraut’s sister lived there and told him Sauerkraut was in the van. The man rolled his eyes and said, “Is he drunk?” I told him he was sober and just got out of the hospital; could he come in?
The man slammed the door and then a few moments later he opened it and I saw a woman in the back. I recognized her and smiled. She shook her head and said, “Let him in.” I got him out of the van and led him to the front door and gave him his rollator and breakfast. He kept thanking me and the man kept giving me dirty looks.

I looked at my watch and headed back to church. As I walked in I heard our campus pastor say, “If the counselors will come forward…” I threw my coat down and said ‘hi’ to the folks I brought to church and headed up front. As we walked out of the sanctuary, I noticed only a few folks came forward and there were a number of counselors. I started walking past the library and a man said, “We need another female counselor.” I made a sharp right hand turn and sat down with a young woman.

She said she wanted to be baptized. But, when I asked her when she asked Jesus into her heart she just looked at me. So I shared with her about Jesus and how He changed my life, well the Reader’s Digest version. She said she wanted Jesus to be real to her too. So, we prayed and she asked Jesus into her heart!!!! Jesus timing is perfect!

A close friend of my sister and brother-in-law hit his head and had a brain bleed and almost died, a good friend and a board member had quadruple bypass surgery, a 13 year old Autistic boy was by a canister when it exploded and he has 2^nd and 3^rd degree burns over 50% of his body and a woman who was blind until she was finally blessed with surgery just found out she has cancer and surgery is in a week - all of this in the past month.

Life is fleeting and overwhelming at times. Last Tuesday we studied Luke 10:25-37. This is the parable of the Good Samaritan. A priest and a Levite crossed the street to avoid helping a man who had been brutally beaten and robbed.

When was the last time you did this, you saw a need and crossed the street to get away from helping? No time. Don’t wanna get involved. Somebody else will help…

The Samaritan (an outcast - think of him as an addict, alcoholic, mentally ill, homeless man) stopped immediately (he didn’t try to rationalize his way out of helping) and gave aid.  His heart was hurt as, “He took pity on him.”

So, how many of us would have just written a check to take care of the wounded man in order to avoid dealing with the drama? How many of us would have bandaged his wounds and said, “Okay there you go, take care?” and walked off. Or would you have gone “all in” and done exactly as the Samaritan? Going above and beyond “just enough.”

We live in a world where we do just enough to get by. As believers Jesus calls us to go the extra mile to serve and sacrifice because it’s not about us, it’s about Him and our relationship with Him.  We need to ask God to soften our hearts, to give us empathy and allow us to love “them” enough to become “us.” We need to stop and weep over the lost and then get up and do something.

Isaiah 58, In His Service is at 3734 E. Admiral Place. We’re there every Saturday

Upcoming Special Events!

Isaiah 58, In His Service, Inc.

UPCOMING EVENTS

3734 East Admiral Place

Tulsa OK 74115

Please email me or text me, 918-260-1933 to RSVP for the events; Ladies Nite Out!, It’s Okay to be Single and Celebrating Moms! As we want to be sure we have enough food, gifts, etc.

There is no charge for any of the events. However, we will accept donations if God nudges you to give!

Ladies Nite Out!

Thursday, March 22^nd at 6:30pm

Join us for a meal, fellowship, Bunco and to hear Isaiah 58, In His Service’s board member, Julie Donelson share her testimony. Julie is a wife, mother, and nana. She has been a personal trainer for the past 14 years. Julie is also a devoted follower of Jesus. She has had some challenges in her life including drug use in her early years. She is the first to remind us that God redeems, He heals and He has a word of Hope that you won’t want to miss!  

It’s Okay to be Single

Saturday, April 28th at 5pm

Join Dr. Jennifer O’Dell, single until the age of 38 and Deni Fholer, 58 and still single, as they share about life as a Christian single woman in a world that says we need to be married and have children by 20. This is tough stuff. Are you longing more for a mate than you are for an intimate relationship with Jesus? Are you harboring bitterness, anger and secret habits because of self-pity? Maintaining a healthy self-worth, living a meaningful life in Jesus and being content in our singleness – all possible according to the word of God.

Dr. O’Dell has been an Optometrist with Indian Health Care Resource Center for the past 20 years. She was single until the age of 38 when she married the man God asked her to patiently wait for, Alan. They have been married for 7 years and spend time visiting his family farm and her family in Fort Gibson. They love to travel and although they don’t have any children of their own, God has uniquely woven their lives into the lives of families and friends who they minister to sacrificially.

Deni is a Social Worker with Indian Health Care Resource Center for the past 8 years. She is the Executive Director of Isaiah 58, In His Service, Inc. Deni was given a revelation in 1979 that she would one day be in full time ministry based on the chapter of Isaiah 58 in the Bible. Part of this revelation included being forever single on this earth and never having children. Gulp.

The first step was to surrender to His will. The second is to be obedient. “…to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up…” Ephesians 4:12

Celebrating Moms!

Saturday, May 12^th at 6pm

We are excited to celebrate Mother’s Day a day early! We’ll have a delicious meal, treats from Icing on the Top bakery, and Blessing Bags for all of our Moms.

Our honored and special guest speaker will be Deniese Dillon, Co-founder and Executive Director Emeritus of Dillon International, Inc. She worked with 20 countries in humanitarian aid and adoption. Deniese has been a distinguished member of the non-profit community for many years. She is an advocate for women and children, Social Work Associate, Special Education Teacher, and Co-founder of Shadow Mountain Institute. She is an eloquent story teller and a devoted follower of Jesus.

Deniese has authored her first book entitled, An Inconvenient Calling, A Forty Year Journey in International Adoptions and Humanitarian Aid. We will have books available for purchase.

This will be a wonderful celebration of Mothers and a blessed evening of fellowship. Please join us!

Please contact me with any questions and be sure to RSVP as well! In His service, deni

What IF: GATHERING

I knew the IF-GATHERING was coming for months. I knew because one of our Board members was on the host lead team and she reminded me…often. Although I was proud of her and glad she was enthusiastic about this gathering of women around the world via live stream…I was trying to avoid it like the plague.

I’ve been to women’s conferences before and they all seemed designed for a woman I wasn’t even close to being. The women attending those conferences looked like the women speakers. They wear jewelry made by women in Uganda that they bought in support of a ministry; they have read the latest books by Ann Voskamp or are in the latest Bible Study by Lisa Harper or Beth Moore.  They are surrounded by female friends just like them, married, kids (one is a foster child or adopted child), they volunteer at their kid’s school, and they meet at Starbucks to share life. They are leaders in some capacity at their church and many of them don’t have to work and can stay home to raise Godly kids. There are so many women who are in the middle class and live this life of like mindedness and are able to serve our Father and expand the Kingdom. Which is why most of the conferences are designed for this group of women.

But, the folks I hang out with live in an entirely different universe. They often smell like poverty, they have teeth that are broken and falling out, they may wear the same clothes for days at a time because they can’t afford a laundromat; the clothes are ripped and stained and too small or too big. They haven’t bathed because most of the time they don’t have water. They have no social skills; they may butt in line or smack their lips and drop crumbs on the floor. They may share loudly about being sexually abused by an uncle and going into foster care and aging out of the system. Their income is most likely a disability check. They have no concept of current events; many can’t read or spell and dropped out of school to have a baby. Most all of them have kids they are estranged from. They haven’t seen them in years and their kids most likely have been  or are in the system.  Their days are filled with surviving. Literally stressing moment by moment about basic needs; will they eat today? Will they get exploited or bullied? Will they be able to pay the utility bill? They don’t sleep through the night because they fret; they have no idea what it means to be still.  Many have undiagnosed mental illness and should be on meds. Nightmares, memories of abuse and neglect flood their minds and this is the way it’s always been so it will always be.

I’ve said often that I would rather sit on a curb with a drunk or in a hoarder’s car than go to church functions that fit everybody else but “my guys and gals.”  God has given me an understanding and empathy for these folks, because in many ways I’m just like them.  

God revealed to me in 1979 that ministry was in my future and that ministry would not include marriage or children. Well, okay then. But as God continued to mold and shape me, I drifted farther and farther away from typical, accepted and expected.

I wear blazers and pants every single work day that include two ink pens on my lapel and pins that advocate, “Patients first”, “Make a difference” and “Every child counts.” Every other public moment of my life include jeans and a sweatshirt or t-shirt or hoodie that have scripture written on them and I usually wear an Isaiah 58, In His Service ball cap. I don’t wear make-up, my hands are usually dry and I color my hair every once in awhile, regardless of how wide the gray stripe grows. I can’t converse about my marriage, or a fabulous dinner I cooked for a party of 6 or my last vacation to Disney World.

I can talk about how God has directed me to a family who are homeless because of unpaid medical bills or how we don’t have emergency housing in Tulsa or how seniors are going without food and medicine because they can’t afford transportation to get out, or after a person goes to a psychiatric hospital for stabilization they are discharged back to the same environment they left, because we have no step-down services for them.

I can talk about lives destroyed by guilt and shame from abuse and abortion and about caregivers suffering from compassion fatigue and how women I knew were killed by domestic violence, or families devastated by gun violence or suicide or mental illness or substance abuse.

I can talk about how many posts I see on Facebook that are horrid, fueled by ignorance that perpetuates hate and are posted by Christians.  How prejudice and bigotry are passed from generation to generation and far from the teachings of Jesus.

I digress. So you can see why I’m not invited over for an evening with friends much.

A week before the IF-GATHERING God nudged me to take some women to this weekend event. I admit I balked at first because I anticipated a weekend of disappointment and reminders of what these women were without.  I entered my “zone of prayer” to invite those He put on my heart. In the zone I also prayed for their protection, protection from bias and prejudice and ignorance. I also prayed for protection from distraction. To let them hear from God through topics and discussion they could relate to and I wanted them to feel welcome.  Oh God please don’t let them feel different, please let them fit in.

We got there on Friday evening and ordered food from the Purple People Feeder food truck! You see food is a very big draw for many of my folks. Ramen noodles and hot pockets can only go so far. One of our ladies has an anxiety disorder and she eats by taking a bite and walking around. Often she doesn’t finish because she wants to save it in case she gets hungry later and has no other food. But, tonight she ate. Every. Single. Bite. She sat and joined in the conversation and commented, “This is really good but I’m full.” Then she laughed and continued eating.

IF. If there could be a women’s gathering that included diverse speakers from around the world, IF they could talk about the tough stuff; injustice, sex trafficking, cancer,  living in the mundane, special needs, fostering/adoption, abortion, refugees. IF they even could have the courage to mention mental illness. IF they could have sign language interpreters, IF they would include real life tough stories even some without a happy ending, IF they wouldn’t be satisfied with the event and work harder and harder to include all women so everyone could relate and KNOW that God completely and wholly loves every one of them…us.  IF they would step into the role of walking with women in making disciples.  The 2018 IF: GATHERING did all of this more!

I can say with a full heart that our ladies were welcomed! They were engaged in conversations with ladies they had never met before, their hands were held and they were hugged. I saw them relax and laugh without interference from their real life back home. I watched them share some of their story with others and the others listened. They were encouraged.

Most importantly they weren’t watching from the outside but for once in their lives they were, “One of the girls.”

I was also asked, “When are you going to take us again?”

Towards the end of the second day I was asked by our Board member if we would take the leftover lasagna from lunch. We loaded boxes of lasagna, meat sauce, salad and bread into the van and headed out to take them home. All were indeed thankful!

For a little while, they forgot about their lives of without and believed, “What IF?”

Thank you so much to The Church at Midtown and the Church at Downtown for offering this incredible opportunity to come together in the name of and to the glory of Jesus!

In His service, deni

Thank you 2017 - Come on in, 2018

Isaiah 58, In His Service provides the tangible in order to build relationships and introduce people to Jesus. We remain steadfast in prayer. Asking God to bring us into a more intimate relationship with Him and lead us deeper in service. “Faith is taking the step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

We took two leaps of faith in 2017. We moved a 93 year old Veteran, on Hospice, from a nursing home into our Don Shank Ministry House. We have made the front living room into his master suite. Since he is bedbound we brought the outside world inside to him. He has a CD player with CD’s of his favorites, Hank Williams, Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash.  William, a Viet Nam Veteran, set up a humongous flat screen TV so they can watch the Rifleman together…DVD’s are on the way soon. Ann and her team are providing care for our Veteran around the clock. Thank you to Chrissy, Corey and Connor for graciously getting ‘whooped’ over and over at checkers. Thank you Adele for faithfully listening to his stories, even when she’s heard them before. Jennifer, APRN and Dr. Lamb continue to respond to evening and weekend texts and showing up in person to work through his health concerns. A special thank you to Nick, an amazing fireman who has put up smoke detectors, brought crew from the USS Tulsa to visit and remains a good friend. Thank you Nathan of Riggs Abney Law Firm for helping our Vet get his affairs in order.

It means so much to have folks who have walked with us for some time with faithful support; tangible and financial gifts, prayers, texts, reading & responding to our emails and cards. It is always exciting when we are blessed by new donors! Your unconditional love continues to inspire and encourage, thank you! Gary Anderson, Adele Baker, Joyce Beiger, Donna Birkenfeld, Linda & Brad Bookout, Bruce & Dana Bower, Dr. Shea & David Bowling,  Pastor Cody & Breanna Brumley,, Anna Callaway, Robyn Campbell, Terri & William Clayton, Dr. Carolyn Cobb, Dell & Kevin Coutant, Marilyn Inhofe Davis, Tammy Davis, Shannon Davison, Dr. Pamela Denning,  Deniese Dillon, Julie Donelson, Susan Dornblaser, Elizabeth Duncklee, Facilitators Class of First Baptist Church,  First Church of the Nazarene, First Fruits Ministries, Dr. Rachele & Matthew Floyd, Jacquelyn Franklin, Chrissy Frey, Dorothy & Myron Goforth, Dayna & Bobby Goins, Katie Goodson, JoAnn Gower, Peggy Greenfield, Linda Hale, Dr. Tom & Terri Hamilton, Hollie & John Hawkins, Dr. Michael & Gretchen Haugh,  Dr. Alex Himaya, Dr. Arthur Holleman,  Wade Holman, Jennie Howard, Dr. Valerie Howard, Paula & Rick Hutchings, Indian Health Care Resource Center, Becky & David John, Cindy & Michael Jones, Ellen Jones, Martha & John Jones, Jewel Kemberling, Hayden Lankie, Becca Leath, Mickey & Mike Lemery, Jill & Eric Marshall, Mac Martin, Melissa & Mark McAuliff, Bridget McClendon, William McWilliam, Naomi Meeks, Tara & Arik Miller, Jan Karon & the Mitford Children’s Foundation, Michael Morton, Nancy O’Banion, Dr. Jennifer & Alan O’Dell, Pastor Matt Philpot, Elaine & Richard Post, Cheri Potts & Stan Hall, Martha & Charlie Powell, Dr. Rachel & Tim Ray, Yolanda Robinson, Shepherd’s Class,

Carmelita Skeeter, Aly Sparkman Speers, Diane Steen & Larry Lathrop, Dr.’s Susan & John Studebaker, Brenda Taylor, Christy & David Taylor, Becca Thoman, Dr.’s Heather & Roy Thompson, Rene Thompson, Renee Vaught,  Georgeann & Ted Wagner, Stacey Wilson, Jean Winfrey, Monica Woodlee, Mark & Dawn Wright, Dru & John Young, and John Zito.

A “home” for Isaiah 58, In His Service has been our heart’s desire for some time. Through prayer, wise counsel and courage only God can give, we signed a lease for a 3,124 square foot space in the Admiral Shopping Center. Isaiah 58, In His Service is in between two amazing ministries, Aim High Academy and Share House. I was given the key on December 1^st  and spent some time with Jill our landlord; feeling thankful and knowing in my heart of hearts that God has plans for Isaiah 58, In His Service that are only possible through Him. Nothing is better than to be affirmed that your heart’s desire is the Father’s. Then the next morning at 11:30am on December 2^nd I was in a car wreck. A young woman ran a red light and totaled my car. Thankfully no one was seriously hurt. Our Chevy Astro van is on loan to a single Mom so she could continue her work as a caregiver and her night shift at Macy’s.

This left our “land shark” (a very large lift van that was donated to us right after we were incorporated) as the kids of Comanche Park call it, for me to drive. The wreck did not deter me from the ministry God had laid out before me that day which included moving a foster mom from one apartment to another. On December 3^rd we had our first Board of Director’s meeting in our new home. Our amazing Board, Julie, Mark, Melissa, Chrissy and Paula prayer walked and dedicated the building and ministry to the glory of God. On December 9^th, Wade, Yolanda, David, Patrick, Bruce and Dana miraculously emptied two storage units and a garage and delivered everything safe and sound to our new home! On New Year’s Eve we gathered in Isaiah 58, In His Service’s new home and prayed for so many who suffered loss in 2017 and we prayed with hope for 2018. Prayer by candlelight made for an incredibly blessed evening!

We were invited by a woman to empty and clean her home. We began on a Saturday morning in June and continued working, bringing her breakfast and praying for her on Saturdays through October. Anna, Chrissy and Wade were faithful servants and we had extra help from Keri, Mike and Maggie.

I was honored to share the Isaiah 58, In His Service story with the Sand Springs Church of the Nazarene! Thank you to Mary, Donna, John, Amy and everyone else who made me feel at home. We received 20+ cases of toilet paper and 8+ cases of soap from Lyndra and her lady friends. Often we would deliver groceries to seniors and families and the toilet paper was the first item they ‘oohed and awed’ over!

Driving around town I try to keep gift cards and bags of snacks and hygiene items in my vehicle to give away. Putting these bags together can be costly but this year we were blessed and blessed and blessed! Incredible “Blessings in a Bag” were given to us by Tia and Mical early in the year. For our Holiday Helping Hands Project we received Blessing Bags from Aly and her “gal group.” We also received Blessing Bags from Katy and her kidlets, Isabel, Justice and Reagan who provided colorful art and scriptures for each bag.  All of the bags were hand packed and included needed items such as water, gloves, snacks, toothbrush, hygiene items, etc. Isaiah 58, In His Service added gift cards to McDonalds, an invitation to my church, the Church at Downtown and the plan of salvation to each bag.

In April we celebrated a teen’s birthday by taking him and some of his friends from Comanche Park to Beijing Gourmet Chinese Buffet and Winter Jam! In July we took a group to see a Driller’s Baseball Game for their Family, Faith and Fun night! Hotdogs for everybody!

On Mother’s Day we put together a special basket and delivered to 7 unsuspecting Moms! Widows, single moms, foster moms and a grandma were reminded how special they are and how much they are appreciated.

Many times over the year needs would arise and God would send a hero to step in and be the hands and feet of Christ for us. Brian repaired garage doors for us, Jorge completely repaired the hole in the ceiling of the ministry house, Chuck repaired an oven and did a walk through at our new home to point out areas in need of attention, and Blake, of All Plumbing was called on to light the pilot on our water heater in the ministry house. Rick made deliveries for us and unclogged a sink. Wade, you know what they say about owning a truck and a trailer…you’ll always get called on to move things. Time and time again Wade loaded his truck and trailer for us and then unloaded it, loaded, unloaded… He demonstrated his mechanical skills many times including putting up a gate, replacing the dead bolt and door handle and fixing the fence at the ministry house. He also set off a bug bomb for us. Wade is the epitome of, “Here I am Lord, send me.”

I was humbled to be invited to First Baptist Jenks and spend an evening with the W.R.A.P. ministry; a ministry to fostering and adopting families.  They are doing the tough work and the essential work of raising hurt children to know the Jesus Who loves them wholly and completely.

Mike and Mickey, You Are Special Ministry have been faithful servants throughout this year. Taking folks to the hospital for procedures, delivering furniture and buying, wrapping and delivering gifts for our Holiday Helping Hands Project. They were present for the signing of our lease. We have shared many cups of coffee together and they are faithful friends who pray for Isaiah 58, In His Service and are amazing examples of what it means to live sacrificially for Jesus.  We are humbled to be their partners in sharing the gospel and loving on people in need.

Hayden, my delivery dude, and I delivered Thanksgiving baskets donated by St. John’s Episcopal Church to individuals and families. Chrissy, Corey and Connor delivered pre-cooked Thanksgiving dinners to individuals and families for a total of 19 baskets! Our 13^th Annual Holiday Helping Hands Project provided Christmas gifts to 42 individuals and families this year.  Thank you for faithfully adopting those God put on our heart, Heather, Rachel, Adele, Jennifer, Alan, and Mickey.

Such a blessing to have a “ministry home” for folks to meet, listen to Christmas music, pray for and wrap gifts for those we adopted this year!! Thank you to Paula, Rick, Scotti, Eva, Molly, Jenny, Julie, Chrissy and a special thank you to Connor for putting a bookcase together, finding the bike pump and then airing up tires!

Elaine made two HOPE pillows that were given to two widows who are also cancer survivors. Elaine is also my rock, my accountability partner, my prayer warrior and my best friend. Thank you for undergirding me! Cheri and Stan who own the Million Dollar Inn in Pawhuska, had the floors redone. They gave the old wood to Jim Ellis in Oregon who made beautiful crosses and gave them to Isaiah 58, In His Service!

John of Z Automotive has saved the day for many of our vehicles. Many times I would just “show up” with a leak, or a burned out light or a check engine light and John would take the time to make a repair so I could continue making my deliveries or home visits. This partnership has blessed so many in our community! He also has repaired bikes, assistive devices and provided incredible support to those we serve. Thank you John!

We are humbled to continue our partnerships with Genscripts Pharmacy, thank you Mark and Justin and staff for always taking such good care of those we send to you; Downtown Tulsa Tag Agency, and Yellow Checker Cab Company.

A special thank you to the CARES department of the Tulsa Fire Department, Captain Baker, Nick and Johnny and especially Fire Station 24 who has come to the rescue more than once!!

Melba has been our faithful bookkeeper for the last few years. She has struggled to decipher my handwriting as she enters receipts and amounts on the computer to send to Stanfield and O’Dell, our accounting firm.  Our 990 will be available in May for review.

Leslie, thank you for “getting it,” and listening to me vent. Thank you for your willingness to remain in the trenches, when it is messy, dangerous and flat out beyond belief! You rock!

Carmelita and the Indian Health Care Resource Center allow me to serve our Native American patients with resources provided by Isaiah 58, In His Service. The opportunity to practice hands and feet social work in a non-profit medical clinic is a blessing that was seemingly tailor made for me! Each day is an adventure into joy and tragedy, tears and laughter, righteous frustration and barrier breaking. I face each day with the Hope of knowing that God has placed me exactly where I am and I am humbled to get to do what I do. Carmelita, thank you for letting me do what I was called to do!

2018. Is it beginning like 2017 ended? Same routines, same habits, same devotionals. What if 2018 could be radically different? What if we put God first…literally. Jesus above family, work, community group, vacation…me. What if we asked God to change us from the inside out? To send us where we don’t want to go, where we would NEVER go? To send us to the place that scares us the most. What if we took off everything that is selfish, spoiled, and sacred and laid it all at His feet? The hurting around us is palpable. It is time. God first, others second, me last. Isaiah 58, In His Service is opening the door to change.  We challenge you to step outside your comfort zone.   Now is the time to take that step of faith! We need your help!

Know that you are prayed for…

“I thank God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of

Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1: 3-6

In His Service,

deni

We can do more. We can do better.

“You know what I hear all the time when I go to speak at churches or conferences? `I could never do what you’re doing.’ You know what I say? Usually I say something like, ` Well, I understand. This is what God has called me to do.’

You know what I WANT to say? `Why not?’ Stop being so weak. God did not create you to be a scared, irrelevant Christian. Why can’t you do this? What is holding you back if you know what God’s Word says and you know what He’s capable of doing? Why? Why? Why? Stop being afraid of the gutter and just go get in it.’ The world looks at the Church and sees a bunch of people too afraid to approach them.”

-The Gutter by Craig Gross

“Do not be afraid of change. Be afraid of not changing.” Anonymous.

"We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It's easy to say, ‘It's not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.’ Then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes.” – Fred Rogers

13th Annual Holiday Helping Hands Project - 42 Families and counting!

I looked up and there he was; Grizzly Adams. Well, that’s who he reminds me of. We’ve been walking with him for the last 5 or 6 years. He had loved on a Grandma raising her grandson but the Grandma died but he continues helping her son raise the little guy.

He took life for granted, including his wife until she got sick. He was “a beer guzzler” and a self-professed “bad man” until she died. After he lost her, he quit drinking cold turkey and retreated into his shack. I drive over once in awhile and give him a gift card so he can get some groceries. He reminds me that he doesn’t deserve kindness, but he takes the gift card only because he’s hungry.

We have included him in our Holiday Helping Hands Project for the last few years. This year he asked for a coat, gloves and jeans. He was adopted by a couple and the wife delivered his gifts. He has some pit bulls in the yard so needless to say she was a bit hesitant to enter the gate. He came out and received the gifts with a full heart.

He helped our ministry move into our new home. Each time he sees me he says, “You’re nicer to me than family, so if you need anything I wanna help ya.” He called and asked to talk to me in person. He sat in front of me in his new coat and jeans, his hands stained with years of grease and dirt, food particles in his long beard, hat in his hand, smelling of wood smoke with tears in his eyes.  He looked down as he spoke. He said he needs to go to court. He owes hundreds of dollars in fines and he’s afraid, “That judge may lock me up or make me do community service, my heart ain’t as strong as it used to be and what about my dogs.” He was ashamed. He was afraid.

I put my hand on his and I told him I would get him to court. I reminded him he was not alone and I would be there to help whatever the judge said.  He said I’ve helped him enough. I leaned down to look into his eyes and I told him that Jesus loves him wholly and completely and that Jesus died for all of his sins. I was brought into his life to share the love of Jesus and there is no limitation on that love. Everything that Isaiah 58, In His Service offers, is God’s first so as Jesus provides we give.

This gruff ol’ soul goes out every day picking up cans to sell. He repairs lawn mowers and fixes whatever he can to make a little cash. This is how he pays his fines. His social security check pays his rent. Sometimes he has water and electricity, more often than not, he doesn’t. The last time I gave him a gift card for food he said, “I don’t want to make you mad but I bought a little outfit for the baby and some food, they needed some help.” I gave him a bear hug and he said, “A week of liverwurst’s not so bad.” He smiled.

We got him to court and the judge didn’t order community service, “Said I was too old for that.” But, the judge told him to pay his fines. Since court we have paid for his tag and insurance on his truck. We gave him blankets, a comforter and gas for his truck. God willing we will help pay off his fines.

He’s been going to church with us the last few Sundays. He said he’s never been in a church like ours. He likes the music, “And that preacher, he makes sense and I think he’s been talkin’ just to me.” No one has shied away from shaking his greasy hand.  When I dropped him off after church he said, “I wish my girl could see me today, I miss her so but I think she’d like how I’m changin’ for the better.” Without a doubt!

2017 was our 13^th Annual Holiday Helping Hands Project. It wasn’t started to be an annual event. We began in 2005 when I worked at OU Pediatrics.  Our prayer was to provide Christmas to a few families who may otherwise not have anything. We decided to give gifts to everyone living in the home and the promise was, “We will deliver before Santa Claus comes down the chimney at midnight on Christmas Eve.” We required no application, we said ‘yes’ to everyone who asked for help, and we made sure to be ready to help the week before Christmas. It was quickly discovered that no agency or ministry was available to adopt new families during the week of Christmas, so since we’re a “gap filler” ministry, that’s when we get a lot of requests for help so we give! The Holiday Helping Hands Project begins in November and continues into January. If folks weren’t loved on for Christmas and God brings them to our attention we rally the troops and keep giving!

These values and promises have remained over the years. Some of you have been faithful from the beginning, including adopting, buying, wrapping and delivering! You have been willing to go into some homes that are scary looking and into neighborhoods with a bad reputation.  You have been willing to go where Jesus calls us to serve, where it’s dirty, smelly, shocking and heart breaking. 

I wish I could articulate just how much our Holiday Helping Hands Project means to these folks; single moms with kids, seniors living alone, kids with special needs, widows and widowers, foster families, Veterans, homeless, those living in extreme poverty, folks who feel forgotten, those going through cancer treatment, cancer survivors, those on Hospice, homebound folks, folks with mental illness, addictions and chronic illnesses, kids – of all ages. Not all of them ask for help. Sometimes God reminds me of someone and we just show up with wrapped gifts, an invitation to church and a reminder that Jesus is the reason we’re giving.

Why do we keep serving through the Holiday Helping Hands Project? Because Jesus calls us to plant seeds. Over the years we have loved on folks and been a witness to the life changing power of Jesus Christ! We have seen salvations, transformation, forgiveness and changed lives.  Because of our giving and the reason for our giving and the manner in which we give…years later I’ve run into people who grab my neck and squeeze, who reach for my hand, who look into my eyes and say,

“You probably don’t remember me, but a few years ago, we were really struggling and you came to our house with presents. We’re doing so much better now, but I saw you and I just wanted you to know that you were there when we needed you and I’ll never forget what you did for us or your ministry.”

It’s not me. It’s Jesus working through each one of you. Nudging you to step into the gap and provide Christmas to those in need. Each year gifts are bought and given to us to use as we need to. And each gift is always divinely guided; clothes in the right size for one kid we didn’t know we were going to adopt. A bike, a pair of shoes, a coat, and books all given before we knew we needed them!

HOPE. Christmas is a bittersweet time for so many. For many of those we give to, they dread November and December because it is a reminder of who they lost, what they don’t have, how alone they are and what they can’t give. Where they are is not where they have to stay. Life can get better. There is hope. His name is Jesus Christ!  

“We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3

Know that you are prayed for and you are not taken for granted, I thank God for each of you!

In His service, deni